Responses to farmers' suicides Farmers' suicides in India

1 responses farmers suicides

1.1 2006 relief package
1.2 agricultural debt waiver , debt relief scheme, 2008
1.3 regional initiatives

1.3.1 maharashtra bill regulate farmer loan terms, 2008
1.3.2 maharashtra relief package, 2010
1.3.3 kerala farmers debt relief commission (amendment) bill, 2012


1.4 2013 diversify income sources package
1.5 effectiveness of government response

responses farmers suicides

the government appointed number of inquiries causes of farmers suicide , farm related distress in general. krishak ayog (national farmer commission) visited suicide prone farming regions of india, in 2006 published 3 reports recommendations. subsequently former prime minister manmohan singh visited vidarbha in 2006 , promised package of ₹110 billion (about $2.4 billion). families of farmers had committed suicide offered ex gratia grant of ₹100,000 (us$1,600) government, though amount changed several times.

2006 relief package

in 2006, government of india identified 31 districts in 4 states of andhra pradesh, maharashtra, karnataka, , kerala high relative incidence of farmers suicides. special rehabilitation package launched mitigate distress of these farmers. package provided debt relief farmers, improved supply of institutional credit, improved irrigation facilities, employed experts , social service personnel provide farming support services, , introduced subsidiary income opportunities through horticulture, livestock, dairy , fisheries. government of india announced ex-gratia cash assistance prime ministers national relief fund farmers. additionally, among other things, government of india announced:

in vidarbha region of maharashtra, had received considerable mass media news coverage on farmer suicides, farmer families of vidarbha in 6 affected districts of maharashtra given cash sum of ₹05 million (us$78,000) each, pay off debt principal.
₹7.12 billion (us$110 million) in interest owed, of 30 june 2006, waived. burden of payment shared equally between central , state government.
the government created special credit vehicle vidarbha farmer, tune of ₹12.75 billion (us$200 million). special teams comprising nabard , banks deputed ensure fresh credit starts flowing farmers of region.
an allocation of ₹21.77 billion (us$340 million) made improve irrigation infrastructure farmers of vidarbha region had assured irrigation facilities in future.

agricultural debt waiver , debt relief scheme, 2008

the government of india next implemented agricultural debt waiver , debt relief scheme in 2008 benefit on 36 million farmers @ cost of ₹653 billion (us$10 billion). spending aimed @ writing of part of loan principal interest owed farmers. direct agricultural loan stressed farmers under so-called kisan credit card covered under scheme.

regional initiatives

various state governments in india have launched own initiatives prevent farmer suicides. government of maharashtra set dedicated group deal farm distress in 2006 known vasantrao naik sheti swavlamban mission, based in amravati. group study farmers suicides constituted government of karnataka under chairmanship of dr veeresh, former vice-chancellor of agricultural university , prof deshpande member.

maharashtra bill regulate farmer loan terms, 2008

the state government of maharashtra, 1 of farmer suicide affected states, passed money lending (regulation) act, 2008 regulate private money lending farmers. bill set maximum not legally allowed interest rates on loans farmers, setting above money lending rate reserve bank of india, , covered pending loans.

maharashtra relief package, 2010

the state government of maharashtra made illegal, in 2010, non-licensed moneylenders seeking loan repayment. state government announced village farmer self groups, disburse government financed loans,a low rate crop insurance program premium paid 50% farmer , 50% government, launch of alternate income opportunities such poultry, dairy , sericulture farmers in high suicide prone districts. government further announced finance marriage fund under samudaik lagna ₹10 million (us$160,000) per year per district, community marriage celebrations, many couples married @ same time minimise cost of marriage celebrations – cause of suicides among farmers identified own study.

kerala farmers debt relief commission (amendment) bill, 2012

kerala, in 2012, amended kerala farmers debt relief commission act, 2006 extend benefits distressed farmers loans through 2011. cited continuing farmer suicides motivation.

2013 diversify income sources package

in 2013, government of india launched special livestock sector , fisheries package farmers suicide-prone regions of andhra pradesh, maharashtra, karnataka , kerala. package aimed diversify income sources of farmers. total welfare package consisted of ₹912 million (us$14 million).

effectiveness of government response

the government s response , relief packages have been ineffective, misdirected , flawed, states surinder sud. has focused on credit , loan, rather income, productivity , farmer prosperity. assistance in paying off outstanding principal , interest helps money lenders, has failed create reliable , sources of income farmer going forward. usurious moneylenders continue offer loans @ interest rates between 24 , 50 percent, while income generating potential of land farmer works on has remained low , subject weather conditions. sud states government has failed understand debt relief postpones problem , more lasting answer farmer distress can come reliable income sources, higher crop yields per hectare, irrigation , other infrastructure security. golait, in reserve bank of india paper, acknowledged positive role of crop diversification initiative announced in government s response reports of farmer suicides. golait added, indian agriculture still suffers from: i) poor productivity, ii) falling water levels, iii) expensive credit, iv) distorted market, v) many middlemen , intermediaries increase cost not add value, vi) laws stifle private investment, vii) controlled prices, viii) poor infrastructure, , ix) inappropriate research. approach mere emphasis on credit in isolation above factors not agriculture . furthermore, recommended golait, more pro-active role in creating , maintaining reliable irrigation , other agriculture infrastructure necessary address farmer distress in india.